Page:The Bohemian Review, vol2, 1918.djvu/210

 Masaryk is recognized by the Allies as the leader of the Czechoslovak Revolution, Kramář looks 20 years younger.”

They watched Kramář, as he turned toward the National Theatre; there he was joined by another man. “Look, deputy Klofáč seems to be in excellent humor. He is going tonight to Lublaň to the Slav Congress.” The leader of the Czech Socialists and the leader of the Czech bourgoisie shook hands and then walked together talking in a lively manner. Every little while they stopped to emphasize some point in their talk, and the passers-by stopped too and took off their hats respectfully before the two twotwo [sic] leaders who next to Masaryk represent the hope of the nation. Although both men had spent years in jail—and the Austrian jails have been celebrated by Byron a hundred years ago—their figures were straight and imposing. “Editor H. is walking toward them,” said Mr. M. to the four silent watchers. “They must have something important to discuss.”

In a few minutes Mr. H. left the two politician and with a lively step walked toward the coffee-house; in another minute the five friends saw him walking toward their table. “A great victory,” he exclaimed in a clear voice so that the whole coffee-house fixed its attention on him. “Great Britain recognized the National Council and our Army as an Ally.”

Everybody arose and gathered around editor H. and his friends. Somebody intoned the Czech national hymn, and in another second the whole gathering took up the song so dear to every Czech. But before the first two lines were sung, a loud voice was heard: “In the name of the law I arrest you, Mr. H.” A policeman in plain clothes laid his hand on the shoulder of the surprised editor. The guests present stopped singing and a storm of indignation made itself heard. It began to look like a riot, but Mr. H. called out: “Quiet, boys, quiet. Our Army spoke, France spoke, now England spoke—it is the turn of the other side to speak. Austria is giving us her answer. Let us go on, Mr. Policeman, na zdar, boys. Don’t start anything now, we will need you some other time, not today.” And he led the way while the police agent followed sheepishly.J. T.

One of the most remarkable things in the whole fight of American Czechoslovaks for the freedom of their native land has been the absolute unanimity of the entire nation. It is manifested in their common work, in the ideals for which they all struggle, and in the sacrifices which all gladly bring.

That has not been so always. It must be admitted that before the great war came upon us, for more than fifty years, the Czechs in America to their own great loss were divided into camps, sharply hostile to each other. It seemed as if the abyss separating the religious from the irreligeousirreligious [sic] Czechs could never be bridged. Sober and thoughtful men have long grieved at this unnatural split of their people, but they were powerless to bring about a change, for others who directly or indirectly profited by the discord frustrated all efforts at harmony.

Then came the great war, and with all its horrors it brought to the Czech people the first hope in centuries of regaining its independence. To the United States came the appeal of the Czech leaders who escaped from Bohemia and opened a campaign on the hospitable soil of France: “Help us in the fight for the liberation of Bohemia and Slovakia, for our people at home have their hands tied.” The appeal found an instant response. Organizations arose which in a short while combined to form the present Bohemian-National Alliance, and soon after the Alliance was strengthened by the co-operation of the Slovak League which came into existence sometime before the war. These two bodies grew in strength and importance, until they covered most of the Czech and Slovak settlements in the United States and Canada. But even then they did not represent the whole of the Czecho-slovak people in this country, for side by side with them there was the strong Catholic section of the people with its many organizations, newspapers, parishes, schools and churches. For a long while this section limited itself to relief work only. The deep cleft maintained for half a century prevented it from uniting with the rest of the people. On both sides sensible men called for union in the fight for the liberation of the old land, but the cry found little response, because the two opposing camps did not know how to come together.

But thank God there were men among the Bohemian Catholics, both clergymen and laymen, who undertook to bring about a union. At an important conference held in the city of Chicago in February 1917 the foundations were laid for the National Alliance of Bohemian Catholics. In a few months the new organization under the leadership of patriotic and wise men and women accomplished what had formerly seemed impossible—they induced the Czechs of the United States to lay aside for a time the prejudices which separated them and to work together in the same ranks for the support of the campaign of liberation carried on in France, England and all the Allied countries. Today we may proudly and with complete satisfaction declare that the Czechs and Slovaks both at home and abroad are completely united.

The first premier of the provisional Czechoslovak Government, Professor Thomas G. Masaryk, during his recent visit to Chicago laid much emphasis on the fact, that we are fully united in this critical